Tuesday, November 30, 2010

SUNFLOWER COMMISSION
I am almost finished with the large sunflower painting. I've taped off the sections and finessed the lines until I couldn't focus! Tomorrow morning I'll go over the whole thing one more time to double check that everything is cohesive and connected and then I will put the first coat of varnish. I'm not going to post it on the blog because I want my customer to have the first peek at it. After they see it, then I will post.
ART MATERIALS SWAP
I'm getting ready for the annual Plein Air Painters of NM luncheon this weekend. It's really cool because we're also having an Art Material Swap during our meeting, a cool lunch, a vote for officers, and also a plein air painting demo by someone, I forget who, (my bad) but he must be pretty good to be doing a demo for all the plein air painters! I plan on taking a couple of plein air easels, some paints, and a few books. Hopefully I can sell or trade them and find a few treasures myself.
CHRISTMAS
There's a lot going on this weekend - all of the antique stores near my house are having their annual Shop and Stroll. Every store has food and drink, lots of people, and good discounts. I think Corrales is also having their own Shop and Stroll this weekend. Man, Christmas is coming way too fast! But I do love it. I am already sick from eating so much food though....ugh.
DAILY PAINTINGS
After this sun painting is finished, I have a couple of small paintings I need to work on, and I am going to try to paint a daily painting or two. I am missing my little 8x8s and 8x10s! Stay tuned...

Sunday, November 28, 2010

THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving was awesome. So much food...we went to my sister-in-law's house by the river. It was her first Thanksgiving in her new house and we all brought food.
Two turkeys, two stuffings, two mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, Italian green beans, corn, cranberries, sweet potatoes, fruit salad, fudge, brownies, pies, etc. I did take a nice walk down to the river afterwards though. I went to Weight Watchers on Saturday and gained .2 pounds, which is not even half a pound and I worked out almost every day since then. I know I ate too much fudge though. I should hand over the "fudge reins" to someone else in the family! Oh well.
WORK
Right now I'm working on finishing up a large sunflower painting full of tiny little lines. I should be finished in a day or so. Then I move on to a couple of 8x10s (one is suns and one is mountains with flowers), a 6x9 (also sunflowers), a 12x16 (gardenias with butterflies) and then I am going to stop for a day or so and take a breather. I still have more work lined up, but I want to stop painting on the 10th. December 11 is my birthday and that's the day I get my Christmas tree and start preparing for Christmas. I have a couple of family ornaments to make too.
I hope you're all doing well. Thanks to everyone who came and supported me for the show. It was fantastic and I am still feeling the effects of all your love and well wishes. More later....

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

sunflower detail

This is detail of the linework going into the "SUNFLOWERS WITH CINNAMON" painting that I'm working on. This is a happy painting and I can't wait to see it finished, I'm hoping to have it completed by Sunday.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! I'm working out, then baking chocolate chip pumpkin cookies, biscochitos, and fudge. That will probably take up quite a bit of my day. I will post photos!
Anyway, more later.....

Friday, November 19, 2010

commission

"SUNFLOWERS WITH CINNAMON"
30"X24"
This is a sunflower painting I'm working on and I'm liking it so far. When this one is done, I have two 8x10s to complete; one is sunflowers and the other is mountains with flowers. I also have a 12x16 piece with gardenias and butterflies. That will be interesting because I've never painted butterflies or gardenias. I've been thinking about the lines amd I don't think the gardenias will have any lines because they're such a light color. We'll see when I get to that point.
Oh, the photos I have posted below - we went on a day trip Wednesday. First to Jemez, which was beautiful with all of the red hills. And the Gilman tunnels. Then on to Los Alamos. We saw deer and passed by Valle Caldera, the huge nature preserve. And then we went on to Chimayo, which was absolutely beautiful. There was no one there, we were the only travelers at that time. The sun was shining down on the mountains and the church seemed so serene and spiritual. I mean it always seems spiritual, but it was just really beautiful. And there was a moon coming up over the mountains. I took lots of photos so you'll be seeing some paintings of that coming up. Then we went to eat at the newly reopened Rancho de Chimayo restaurant. It was burned in a fire a few years ago and is now beautiful again. I had shrimp enchiladas on blue corn tortillas with a pesto green chile sauce, with white cheese and black beans. Yum! But the sopapillas!!!! Oh my gosh, the hottest and fluffiest things I've ever eaten. We even brought a couple of them home. I would go back and just have sopaipillas - along with the wild honey locally grown in NM. Wonderful day.
So, I cleaned my studio yesterday! And my closet! And went through a bunch of magazines. And a couple of drawers. I always get in the mood to clean after a show is over. I am working out again and am going back to Weight Watchers tomorrow. I know, it's close to Thanksgiving and the holidays BUT I am going to try to maintain and lose a little too.
Gotta run - enjoy your day and watch for a daily painting soon.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

guess where I went yesterday....




I'll tell you tonight! I am working on paintings all day and editing photos later...


Tuesday, November 16, 2010

thoughts

The fields near the river by my house. Pretty, aren't they?
Good morning everyone...Weems is officially over and I have to say, I had a blast seeing all of my friends, family, collectors, and new friends too. I rested yesterday, went to the gym last night and am thinking about what I'm going to do next. This week involves antiquing, a day trip, nice get togethers and just relaxing. I have several paintings I am still working on and a couple of new small commissions to finish up too.
WANT A PAINTING?
I will paint from now until December 10, so if you have anything you want or need....email me soon! I have room for a couple of small commissions between now and then. December 11 is my birthday and that's the day we get our Christmas tree and start celebrating the holidays. I'm looking forward to that. I have a new son-in-law in the family this Christmas, so that will be fun!
WEIGHT LOSS BLOG
Just so you know - I am deleting my weight loss blog and will incorporate parts of it into this blog, along with any worthy photos I take. I want to simplify and streamline everything into one blog to make it easier. I am going back to Weight Watchers on Saturday and will work to maintain and maybe lose a little though the holidays and start work on losing the next 50 pounds. Working out and trying to lose weight has become just something that I do, like brushing my teeth or flossing so I think I can cover it here from time to time.
DAILY PAINTINGS
I am starting my small paintings again and may put them up for auction on eBay, just for a change. That's how I started my daily paintings four years ago and it worked out very well. There will probably not be a painting available for purchase every single day but I will aim for about four per week and I will try to post something every day, whether it's another work in progress, a video, etc. Thanks to all of you who have supported me by buying my little paintings.
THE NEXT 150 CHALLENGE IS COMING!!!
Starting January 1, 2011, I will begin a new 150 Challenge. I will have a solo show in June at Weems Gallery. It will work this way: I will paint 150 paintings in 150 days and they will all be $150. There are three major differences this year! The paintings will all be oils, they will all be framed, and most of them will be painted on location all over New Mexico. The paintings will range in size from 5x7 all the way up to a couple of 16x20s, which will also be $150 each. I will create a new blog - untitled as of yet - and post the paintings as I complete them, starting at #150. Nothing will be sold until the show opens, but if you see a painting you like, you may call the gallery let them know you want it. If more than two people end up wanting the same painting on opening night, we will do a coin toss to determine the winner. Online customers are encouraged to call. I have never framed my work before and have painted in oils occasionally but this will definitely be a challenge for me. I will be out of my comfort zone for sure! But that's what a challenge is all about and I hope you will follow along with me. We will have a grand opening reception the first Friday in June with food, great music and I will send out postcards in May advertising the show.
Okay, I have a full day planned so I will see you later!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Artfest photos...

My friend Tom and I in front of my booth

Little paintings

Another wall

ARTFEST is over! More later...

Artfest photos...

"SUNSET AT ALGODONES"
SOLD

Nice view of my booth

Me and my sweet Emily



Thursday, November 11, 2010

made my day....

After a long day getting ready for Artfest, came home and this made me smile. Thanks, my facebook friends!

fat birds...

"WINTER BIRDS"
in progress
16"x16" I think
I am posting this at almost midnight - I've been wanting to do a whole series on fat birds and this is the first one. As you can see, I have some practicing to do on my birds, but I like him!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Dee's Artfest paintings...

"HOLLYHOCKS ON GREY"
24"x18"
Good morning everyone - first of all I want to say that my viewers have been getting some spam emails sent to them from someone who is not me! My brother in PA (who is a computer whiz guy) is fixing the problem. I apologize. Please don't open anything that does not look like it's from me.
Second of all, I am getting ready to head to Artfest to set up all the paraphenalia that is my booth. Afetr that, more work and tomorrow, hanging the paintings. I will be taking photos of work and posting as I do an inventory I will not send you every post, I will just put them up on the blog. I'll touch back in tonight.
Oh, this painting turned out so pretty, the photo doesn't do it justice. It's from a photo I took somewhere on this beautiful grey adobe background. Hope you like. Bye!

my new best friend...

Okay, I know I'm going crazy getting ready for Artfest, but a friend put this video on facebook and even though I'm a dog person, this cat and I could hang.....

Monday, November 08, 2010

untitled - 30x24

Artfest works in progress...

one poppy - untitled 12x9

clouds on the way to Santa Fe - untitled 24x48


Rio Grande Gorge, Taos


Sunday, November 07, 2010

newspaper photo

Hi guys, here is the one of the photos in the newspaper article. It's weird, seeing myself, because usually I'm the one behind the camera or camcorder. And smiling!

works in progress, Weems show...

"GOLDEN MESA"
30"X40"

"OVERCAST, VALDEZ"
16"X12"

"FALL COLORS, BLUEBERRY HILL"
10"X10"

Good morning everyone! It's very hard to post daily when I am in the painting zone for Artfest, so these next few days, you will probably see lots of paintings posted at once.
If you didn't get the Sunday morning paper, please do! There is a fantastic article written by David Steinberg about me, my paintings, and Artfest. It is wonderful and I thank him so much for doing such a thoughtful piece. They said they would make me look smart and sound smart and I pretty much think they did....just sayin'.
I have SO many things to do between now and Friday when the show opens. A 30x40 painting to complete, three 24x30s to finish, and lots of small paintings - I love to save those until the very end so I can paint every subject I didn't get to, it is just a wild ride to the finish! I have 300 magnets to create, an inventory list to make, a mad gathering of supplies; lights, rugs, signs, tables, twinkle lights, and all of the tiny little things that are so eay to forget. Things like sales books, pens, stapler, screws, drill, wire, tape, hammer, postcards, etc.
I want to invite you all to the show. I really feel like this is MY year. All my hard work for the last eight years has paid off. I am relaxed, I am balanced. I have lost 50 pounds ( well, close anyway!), and I want to relax, meet all my old friends, make some new ones, and just have fun at the wonderful, magical venue that is Weems Artfest. Love you all.
Oh, and scroll down for more paintings!

new works in progress for show

"ABOUT THE SKY"
16"x16"

"TREELINE, RIM ROAD"
12"x9"

"IN THE IRIS"
16"X12"

Thursday, November 04, 2010

Taos - work in progress

10"x10"
This painting is a square even though it doesn't read that way - I just stuck it in the scanner real quick to get an impression. This is a view of the valley along Blueberry Hill in Taos. If you take the shortcut around town to Arroyo Seco, this is the way you would go. Beautiful contrasts and lots of fields. I am really working now and am going to try to post everything I've done so far, maybe over the weekend.
ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE A FREE POSTCARD TO THE SHOW, PLEASE EMAIL WITH YOUR ADDRESS TO:

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

untitled
5"x5"
A sweet little sunset, a few lines, no varnish yet.

Monday, November 01, 2010

new smalls...

"IN PURPLE"
5"X5"

"RED SUNSET"
5"X7"

"ONE"
5"X5"

Wow, yesterday was crazy. I spent all day until almost midnight addressing postcards and I am still not done. This morning I am mailing everything I have so far, then I will continue on until I have them all ready to send out. I'm also making magnets (over 200), which will take up a good part of my day. I will be finishing up my dancers, a rooster in a lavender fields, two big red poppies, and then I'll see where I'm at. Someone has requested that I paint a vertical sunflower field, so I'll block that in tonight or tomorrow. In the morning, I will take an inventory, see how many paintings I have, what subjects, and how many more I think I can do and what subjects I'm missing that I want to include. I want to include EVERYTHING! Oh, and I am headed to Curves, can't forget the workout, especially since I ate a bunch of Halloween candy. We only had three groups of trick-or-treaters, about 22 total. I expected way more, but I think the local community center had a carnival this weekend, so maybe they were "candied" out. Anyway, more later, Artfest is only 10 days away!